Obviously lots of things can change, but with so few assets, it appears that free agency will be our biggest opportunity to improve and will be extremely important for our 2019-2020 season and for keeping Doncic.

Assets we have to improve the team
1) second rounders (If our 2019 pick conveys, we can trade or keep the 2020 pick)
2) dust/expiring contracts (Jordan, Matthews, Dirk, Barea, Harris, Mejri, DFS, Kleber) - 52 mill total in expiring contracts
3) Smith
4) A one-time cash sweetener
5) Cap space of around 57million
6) People like Doncic and he may be able to recruit? Maybe?

Assets we don't have to improve the team
1) first rounders - we can't trade a single draft pick until ATL gets their pick. Because the pick can be 2019, 2020, or beyond and we can't trade two consecutive picks, we can't trade ANY pick until after we know when year that pick will convey
2) Young talent - Other than Smith, we don't have a lot of young talent. Doncic is untouchable. Kleber and Brunson aren't worth a lot and probably worth a lot more to us than they are to other teams.

1) We re-sign Jordan to either a big one-year contract of around 15-22mill or a slightly longer deal at around 12-15 a year and then prioritize our two guard spots (focusing on defensive guys who can shoot) and we attempt to get Rozier/Russell types

2) or we let Jordan walk, in which case we need to get a center capable of rebounding hard or we need a center and a hard-rebounding PF.

The biggest issue now is the PF spot. With how poorly Barnes rebounds, we either need a monster rebounder like Jordan (despite his poor defense) next to him, or we need to play Barnes at SF and find a PF-- and maybe some guards that can rebound.

I really want smart players who are skilled and can stretch the floor to give maximum space for Luka to operate.

I would personally target Vucevic first and foremost. He's not the greatest defender but he's very skilled, can pass, and shoot it from midrange. I think he'd be a great fit on offense with Luka and he rebounds well enough to not have a huge drop off from DAJ. It's not like DAJ provides any rim protection either.

I like Brogdon as well. He'd be a good secondary ball handler with Luka and can defend quicker point guards.

I really want smart players who are skilled and can stretch the floor to give maximum space for Luka to operate.

I would personally target Vucevic first and foremost. He's not the greatest defender but he's very skilled, can pass, and shoot it from midrange. I think he'd be a great fit on offense with Luka and he rebounds well enough to not have a huge drop off from DAJ. It's not like DAJ provides any rim protection either.

I like Brogdon as well. He'd be a good secondary ball handler with Luka and can defend quicker point guards.

True, Brogdon can matchup with either guard, can run the offense as well, does not need the ball. Tough defender. Would be a good piece to start next to Luka.

Cousins - no interest in
Vucevic - don't know much about. it would be nice to have a stretch 5 but if he is not great on D and that is what everyone complains about DJ, then why kick DJ to the curb only to attempt to sign Vucevic and most likely miss out? Plus we lose our rebounds which we have all complained about for the last several years.

True, Brogdon can matchup with either guard, can run the offense as well, does not need the ball. Tough defender. Would be a good piece to start next to Luka.

I would also target Vucevic, and Brogdon. I would also target Kris Middleton. They are not going to land a top tier FA like KD or Kawhi. They can land 2 second tier FA’s though like Vucevic, Middleton, and Brogdon.

Just because he is a free agent doesn’t not mean he wants to leave the Warriors. He’s been on a losing team every year he’s been in the league, unless you call that NO team last year a winning team. After his injury Golden State was the only team really showed him love. He’s getting crazy love from the fans too. Did you see the standing ovation he got last night? Plus they are a legit Championship contender. He’s not leaving Golden State. The Mavs would be equating their time going after Boogie. You seriously think he would walk away from a chance a title to join a rebuilding team? Not likely.

Just because he is a free agent doesn’t not mean he wants to leave the Warriors. He’s been on a losing team every year he’s been in the league, unless you call that NO team last year a winning team. After his injury Golden State was the only team really showed him love. He’s getting crazy love from the fans too. Did you see the standing ovation he got last night? Plus they are a legit Championship contender. He’s not leaving Golden State. The Mavs would be equating their time going after Boogie. You seriously think he would walk away from a chance a title to join a rebuilding team? Not likely.

The warriors can only offer Cousins 120% of his current salary which is just over 5m. Around 6.4m is all they can offer him as long as they are over the cap. Even if they gutted the roster down and lost KD and found a way to lose Iggy and take no salary back they still would only be able to offer Cousins up to around 12-15m with holds I believe just eyeballing it. Maybe he is ok with that but I highly doubt it. And again they would have to gut the team and lose Livingston and everyone else who remotely has a salary above a minimum hold. This is a one year ring and leave thing for Cousins.

Even though there was some recent chatter that he might think about staying...there is no way he says. GS was always going to be a rehab year for him because there was no pressure for him to come back too early but one playoffs he can def. helps make sure they win it all. After that he will be looking for a big deal and GS as you say can't give it to him almost in any circumstance. He looked good last night for a first game back but it is one game, I think anyone who doesn't understand why Macs would go after Cousins, may not understand basketball especially now that Luka has changes everything. DJ is good...but ALL he does is lob dunks and when teams take that away he has nothing. Someone like Cousins can dominate on his own and make things 10X easier for Luka and in turn Luka will make things easier for him. Again, Cousins or Vucevic would be my first options at C because they are very good overall players that would really help Luka.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryan_Wilson

The warriors can only offer Cousins 120% of his current salary which is just over 5m. Around 6.4m is all they can offer him as long as they are over the cap. Even if they gutted the roster down and lost KD and found a way to lose Iggy and take no salary back they still would only be able to offer Cousins up to around 12-15m with holds I believe just eyeballing it. Maybe he is ok with that but I highly doubt it. And again they would have to gut the team and lose Livingston and everyone else who remotely has a salary above a minimum hold. This is a one year ring and leave thing for Cousins.

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After the 104-102 loss at OKC last Thursday, Terry said "if the Thunder are the pick to win the West, then these re-tooled Mavs are feeling pretty good about things" lol

Just because he is a free agent doesn’t not mean he wants to leave the Warriors. He’s been on a losing team every year he’s been in the league, unless you call that NO team last year a winning team. After his injury Golden State was the only team really showed him love. He’s getting crazy love from the fans too. Did you see the standing ovation he got last night? Plus they are a legit Championship contender. He’s not leaving Golden State. The Mavs would be equating their time going after Boogie. You seriously think he would walk away from a chance a title to join a rebuilding team? Not likely.

“After his debut with the Warriors tonight, Cousins said it was, “Probably the fakest love I’ve received in my life,” regarding the outlandish attention and positivity he received tonight. He said he wasn’t sure how Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant deal with that outlandish attention on a daily basis, and said he hoped it would only be like this for a day (Warriors PR man Raymond Ridder confirmed to him that his hopes were as outlandish as the attention he’s received).”

Just because he is a free agent doesn’t not mean he wants to leave the Warriors. He’s been on a losing team every year he’s been in the league, unless you call that NO team last year a winning team. After his injury Golden State was the only team really showed him love. He’s getting crazy love from the fans too. Did you see the standing ovation he got last night? Plus they are a legit Championship contender. He’s not leaving Golden State. The Mavs would be equating their time going after Boogie. You seriously think he would walk away from a chance a title to join a rebuilding team? Not likely.

The warriors themselves have all but said this is a one year thing for him.

Mavs are gonna screw up and offer Cousins max. I really don’t care how he looks in GS because there’s no pressure to be a focal point. Any team that signs him will obviously be looking to feature him. He will not be the same guy as he’ll be asked to do much more. We’ll see if they learned their lesson with old guy having Achilles surgery.

Mavs are gonna screw up and offer Cousins max. I really don’t care how he looks in GS because there’s no pressure to be a focal point. Any team that signs him will obviously be looking to feature him. He will not be the same guy as he’ll be asked to do much more. We’ll see if they learned their lesson with old guy having Achilles surgery.

Not to mention he was generally a dick to Sacramento media.

Not sure that he will be afeatured but he has the skills to be a very successful 1a piece next to Luka ( if the injury hasn’t completely changed him). So as far as skills go, DC is an ideal fit with Luka but I dont think too many people will argue that your other non basketball points about him.

Also....I am not sure that he will get the Max. But he he get 20+ and is probably worth it. If all he wanted was max, I would look at Vucevic because the other guy I would really is T. Harris.

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After the 104-102 loss at OKC last Thursday, Terry said "if the Thunder are the pick to win the West, then these re-tooled Mavs are feeling pretty good about things" lol

Mavs are gonna screw up and offer Cousins max. I really don’t care how he looks in GS because there’s no pressure to be a focal point. Any team that signs him will obviously be looking to feature him. He will not be the same guy as he’ll be asked to do much more. We’ll see if they learned their lesson with old guy having Achilles surgery.

Not to mention he was generally a dick to Sacramento media.

His lateral movement is and will be extremely limited because of the injury. He fouled out in like 15 minutes last night because of his problems moving his feet. Part of the problem people have had with Deandre is his lack of defense this year. Cousins will be worse on defense.

There is a big difference in a vet taking a discount for a ring and a guy who has never had a max before. Boogie's biggest contract was a rookie max extension of 4yr 65m. There is a reason he was so pissed he signed with the Warriors. He wanted a max and since nobody was giving him a serious offer he gave a huge middle finger to the league. He thought he was going to be in line for a contract in the neighborhood of 180m. His max is 32m next year... He's not taking the kind of discount it would take them to keep him.

His lateral movement is and will be extremely limited because of the injury. He fouled out in like 15 minutes last night because of his problems moving his feet. Part of the problem people have had with Deandre is his lack of defense this year. Cousins will be worse on defense.

His lateral movement is and will be extremely limited because of the injury. He fouled out in like 15 minutes last night because of his problems moving his feet. Part of the problem people have had with Deandre is his lack of defense this year. Cousins will be worse on defense.

Good thing: 36 RS games and probably 20+playoff games to go until Free Agency. So there will be a pretty good scouting report on post injury Boogie.

I mean, even a 80% Cousins is different than Wes. When Boogie went down he was a 27/13/5.4 guy....

Cousins is going to want if not a max contract, then certainly a near max. He will put up big numbers at least until he gets hurt again, but my main worry is his mental influence on Luka. Cousins has historically be on the wrong side of the refs and hasn't been the most stable NBA player to lead a team into the playoffs. More than anything, I want Luka to be the next Bird, MJ, Lebron but he's got to do it without fighting the league for calls. He's got to do it by earning their respect and developing a relationship with them.

Cousins is going to want if not a max contract, then certainly a near max. He will put up big numbers at least until he gets hurt again, but my main worry is his mental influence on Luka. Cousins has historically be on the wrong side of the refs and hasn't been the most stable NBA player to lead a team into the playoffs. More than anything, I want Luka to be the next Bird, MJ, Lebron but he's got to do it without fighting the league for calls. He's got to do it by earning their respect and developing a relationship with them.

If he wants MAX then we move on to Vucevic. But I think if he wins a ring this year or goes deep into the playoffs, it will make him hungrier then ever. If we can bring him on and create a team around Luka that we know will be playoff team and give them a chance to win, it may be enough to keep him in check.

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After the 104-102 loss at OKC last Thursday, Terry said "if the Thunder are the pick to win the West, then these re-tooled Mavs are feeling pretty good about things" lol

On that list, Id go after WCS. Im meh on everyone else or dont think theyre attainable for the Mavs. Personally, Id like to lock up the center positon with DJ so the FO can focus on the other positions (and Barnes trade ...we need some continuity and as far as centers go, he's the best we can get. Im a hell no on Cousins.

I'm curious why noone is mentioning Kyrie. He's a UFA and appears to not like his current situation in Boston. Yes he had issues with Lebron in Cleveland but apparently has grown up quite a bit and quickly as he called to apologize to Lebron. He's 27 and will be in his prime for at least the next three years. He looks like he has fully recovered from his injury.

Thoughts? Does a Luka, Kyrie, and DJ team entice any free agents to come?

I'm curious why noone is mentioning Kyrie. He's a UFA and appears to not like his current situation in Boston. Yes he had issues with Lebron in Cleveland but apparently has grown up quite a bit and quickly as he called to apologize to Lebron. He's 27 and will be in his prime for at least the next three years. He looks like he has fully recovered from his injury.

Thoughts? Does a Luka, Kyrie, and DJ team entice any free agents to come?

As far as enticing other FA's to come because of Kyrie and DJ, absolutely. I think Doncic already has a lot of interest by himself though. I don't think we should have any concern near the level we used to about good players lacking interest in coming here.